Phishing remains one of the most prevalent forms of online crime. To combat this, public and private partners have launched the Anti-Phishing Shield pilot, which has proven quite effective. Since its launch in July 2025, the pilot has blocked more than 2 million attempts to access phishing and fraudulent websites across more than 200,000 users.
2.5 million victims in 2025
The urgency for action is evident. In 2025, around 2.5 million people in the Netherlands experienced online crime (source: CBS). Research by Deloitte indicates that 91% of cyberattacks originate from phishing. Eefje Zents, Director of Digital Resilience Cooperation at the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), states, “The Anti Phishing Shield is a vital step in combating online crime.” She adds, “The success of this pilot demonstrates that collaboration can effectively safeguard consumers from phishing threats.”
United against phishing
The initiative is a joint effort by the Ministry of Justice and Security (JenV), the NCSC, KPN (telecommunications and IT provider), the police, the Dutch Banking Association, and NLconnect (industry association for telecom and broadband providers). During the pilot, several additional internet providers joined the project.
Expanding reach and impact
Encouraged by the pilot’s success, the Ministry of JenV and the NCSC have decided to continue and expand the initiative. They are now exploring ways to increase the reach and effectiveness of the Anti Phishing Shield, such as engaging more customers within participating internet providers and inviting additional providers to join.
For the full announcement (in Dutch), visit the NCSC website.
